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墨書 Inktalez
When I arrived at A Fei's house, I found him doing sit-ups. "Oh! Our big blind hero isn't resting quietly but is working out instead!" A Fei didn't stop when he heard me come in and continued with his sit-ups, saying, "If I don't exercise now, my muscles will atrophy. By the time I get fat and want to work out, it will be too late. I need to stay in shape." "Oh, oh, then let the training be more intense! By the way, I ran into Sha Xiaomei again after school today. She seems to be dealing with something; she wanted to talk but didn't say much, just that she was thinking of you." Suddenly, I recalled Sha Xiaomei's unusual behavior. A Fei frowned, "Since I had surgery, my mom took my phone away, and I haven't turned it on since. So I haven't been in touch with Sha Xiaomei..." A Fei sounded disappointed. "Alright, alright, just hang in there a bit longer. Sigh! Watching all of you fall in love makes me envious. When will my first love come?" I suddenly felt a wave of desolation. "Focus on playing basketball and think less about love," A Fei teased. It's not like he has a school beauty girlfriend to brag about!
The final roster is going to be confirmed tomorrow. I've been training really hard these past few days. Ouyang seems to have moved past his heartbreak and is fully focused on training. Sha Xiaomei hasn't asked me about A Fei lately either. Occasionally when I bump into her after class or school, she just smiles politely at me, a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. It feels like she is hiding something from me and A Fei. With the City High League approaching, I have no time to worry about her situation anymore. After training, I put on my headphones and listened to music while riding my bike home. The light ahead turned green just as I was about to rush through; suddenly it changed to red. I slammed on the brakes. "Damn!" I cursed as I waited for the light to change while looking around at the scenery. Huh? Isn't that Sha Xiaomei? And there's a boy next to her? I recognize that boy; he greeted Shuai Dong when we went to the cafeteria last time. Later Shuai Dong told me his name is Zhao Bin, a rich second generation. Why would Sha Xiaomei be with him? A sense of worry for A Fei crept into my heart.
Once home, that incident kept swirling in my mind: Why is Sha Xiaomei with Zhao Bin? Has she really become materialistic? Should I tell A Fei now or wait until I've figured things out...? I had no appetite for dinner that night; it tasted like cardboard. Lying in bed later, tossing and turning, I recalled that Sha Xiaomei wasn't the type of girl who would chase after money; did I misunderstand her? Sigh! Enough of this; tomorrow they will announce the final list for the City High League. I'd better set this aside for now.
The next day at school, I ran into Sha Xiaomei again at the school gate. "Xiang Jie!" she called out to me again. "Oh! Why isn't our school beauty with Zhao Gongzi today?" My words were pointed; I'd been holding back my anger for a long time. Sha Xiaomei looked startled for a moment. "How do you know..." She seemed a bit flustered. "Sha Xiaomei, after getting to know you over this time, I feel like you shouldn't be this kind of girl. You must have your reasons, right? Let me hear your explanation." I calmed myself down. Sha Xiaomei lowered her head; I heard her sobbing softly as she slowly raised her head, trying hard not to let her tears fall, choking back her words: "You're right; I've fallen for someone else. Zhao Bin's family is wealthy; I'm just attracted to money. Tell Cheng Fei to forget about me!" She turned to leave. "Sha Xiaomei! Is this fair to A Fei?!" I shouted from behind her as she slowly turned back around; I saw tear stains on her face as she wiped them away: "Yeah, tell Cheng Fei I'm sorry." "Sorry, but this time I'm not going to be your messenger; if you have something to say, go tell him yourself. I'm busy training and don't have time." With that, I walked towards the school gate. Sha Xiaomei, it seems I've really misjudged you; I'm disappointed in you!
Once inside the classroom and seated, the more I thought about it, the more unfair it felt for A Fei. "Damn!" I slammed my fist on the desk. "What’s wrong with you? Why are you cursing so early in the morning?" Xia Ying jumped at the sound of my fist hitting the desk. "It's all because of girls like you! It seems materialism and fickleness are traits of women!" Frustratedly, I replied to her. "Xiang Jie, you can't generalize all women based on your experience! If we women have offended you in any way, go find whoever upset you!" Xia Ying shot back fiercely; of course she wouldn't let me bully her like that. "Hey hey hey! Calm down! What's so serious? Let's talk this out peacefully," Shuai Dong quickly stepped in to mediate the situation. "Exactly! Don't get worked up! Xiang Jie, what happened?" Pang Hao also came over to help ease tensions; since they were all here and feeling pent up myself, I shared everything that happened yesterday and this morning with them: “Ah?? You mean Zhao Bin from Sha Xiaomei's class?! The rich kid?” Xia Ying's jaw dropped in surprise. “Yeah, that's him,” I confirmed. Shuai Dong looked even more incredulous: “Sha Xiaomei and Zhao Bin?? I've been classmates with Zhao Bin since junior high school; how come I've never thought he was more charming than A Fei?” I scoffed lightly: “He may not be more charming than A Fei but he is definitely richer.” “Sha Xiaomei... shouldn't be that kind of person,” Xia Ying said thoughtfully. “I used to think she wasn't either but reality has proven me wrong.” My impression of Sha Xiaomei plummeted instantly; sigh! What should I say to A Fei now?
Today was the day when they would announce the final roster during training class. Teacher Qiu said: “Next I'll announce the list of players who can participate in this City High League; this time our team hasn't changed much compared to last year except for Point Guard...” “Teacher Qiu! Wait a minute!” Someone rushed in from outside shouting; it was... A Fei!! “And I'm back!” As he walked in saying this, everyone gasped in disbelief as if they couldn't believe their eyes: “A Fei! What are you doing here?! Where's your eye patch? Isn't there still half a month left until your recovery period?” I rushed over and asked him anxiously. “This morning when I took off that thing, I realized there wasn't much wrong anymore so I hurried back as soon as possible because staying home was boring,” A Fei replied casually. Leaning close to his ear, I whispered: “Does Aunt Yu know you're here?” A Fei chuckled: “You really know me well.” Sigh! It seems my guess was right; this guy sneaked out.
“Cheng Fei! Welcome back!” Zhongqi Senior and Bing Ge came over greeting him while A Fei smiled slightly: “Yeah! Finally able to fight alongside you guys again.” “Alright then! Now that A Fei is back on our team, our scoring Point Guard position is even more solidified but A Fei you've missed quite some training during your absence so you'll need to work hard these days to regain your form but... are you really sure your eyes are fine?” Teacher Qiu expressed concern for A Fei's eyes: “Teacher Qiu, don't worry; I'm well aware of my own condition regarding my eyes—the doctor advised me to rest for a month just as a precaution against incomplete healing but two weeks is enough; resting my eyes doesn't contradict basketball training,” A Fei assured Teacher Qiu confidently before he added: “Okay then! Let's start training!” At Teacher Qiu's command we began practicing while A Fei was particularly excited during training due to having missed practice for so long—it felt like an eagle soaring freely with wings spread wide.
After training ended we returned to the classroom: “A Fei!” Shuai Dong and Pang Hao rushed over as soon as they saw him enter: “How did you get here? Is your eye okay?” Shuai Dong punched A Fei lightly on the shoulder: “Yeah—it's fine now.” A Fei replied nonchalantly still maintaining his low-key demeanor while we chatted casually for a while until suddenly A Fei asked: “Where's Sha Xiaomei? Haven't heard from her lately—I should go check on her.” He started walking out when I quickly stopped him: “Hey... wait! We haven't finished catching up yet—don't prioritize romance over friendship!” He seemed a bit anxious: “We have plenty of time later—I just need to step out for a moment.” “You should first share how it feels being our blind hero—we're all eager to hear!” Shuai Dong laughed while pulling him back playfully causing A Fei pause momentarily: “Are you guys hiding something from me?” “No way! What could we possibly hide from you?” Pang Hao quickly chimed in trying to smooth things over: “I'm not stupid—something must've happened with Sha Xiaomei right? If we're brothers then don’t keep anything from me.” A Fei’s expression turned serious: “A Fei... Sha Xiaomei is no longer who she used to be—forget about her; she's not worth your affection.” Deciding not to hold back anymore myself either—I bluntly stated what had happened: “Sha Xiaomei cheated—she's with a rich second generation.” With those words spoken clearly without reservation—A Fei turned around silently leaving without saying anything further: “A Fei!” Pang Hao immediately wanted to chase after him but I stopped him saying: “Let him go—it’s better if he figures things out himself.”
As class was about to start later on—A Fei returned looking dazed with his head downcast: “A Fei—cheer up—girls like that aren't worth it.” Quickly stepping forward—I tried comforting him but he snapped back angrily: “Shut up! Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?! Are you even my brothers?” He seemed agitated but quickly calmed down again saying softly: “I'm sorry—I’m just feeling down right now—let me be alone for a bit.” Just then—the bell rang signaling class starting—we patted his shoulder before returning back to our seats: “Is A Fei still not calm?” As soon as I sat down—Xia Ying asked me curiously: “Yeah—he needs some time after all—it’s hard letting go of first love,” I replied helplessly.
During afternoon basketball practice—A Fei trained like crazy even applying for extra practice after school under the pretense of regaining his form—it was practically self-torture—and on our way home he didn’t say a word either—but deep down—I believed that soon enough—A Fei would be alright again.
Another new day dawned—it was Saturday—I woke up early rubbing sleep from my eyes when pulling open curtains—I noticed someone outside running upon closer inspection—it turned out it was A Fei! Quickly throwing on some clothes—I headed outside saying: “A Fei—you’re up early for morning practice?” He didn’t respond so instead—I joined him running alongside until after a while he suggested: “Let’s head over to the gym first—to warm up.” It seemed like A Fei had truly gone mad—training starts at 9:30 AM on Saturdays yet here he was already warming up by 7:30 AM—but hey! What can one do when he's my buddy?
When we arrived at the gym—it was completely empty: “How about we compete in spot shooting?” A Fei looked at me by the hoop suggesting enthusiastically—“Sure—you go first.” So he began shooting—the first shot—too eager—missed—the second shot—the third shot… surprisingly—not one went in! With a bitter smile he said: “I can’t even make one basket—I feel so useless…” Then plopped down onto the floor lamenting further: “Turns out she really wasn’t special after all—I always thought she was different—but turns out she's just another ordinary person chasing after worldly things.” As he buried his head into his knees—I started singing softly beside him—a song meant for moments like these:
“In your glorious moments let me sing a song for you,
My good brother—you’ve got burdens too,
When you need someone—I’ll be there beside you,
My good brother—you’ve got burdens too,
Life has its ups and downs—we still must live strong,
Cried and laughed through it all—you still have me…”
Slowly lifting his head—A Fei looked at me as if remembering our past together:
“No matter what happens—you still have us.”
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